Shelter Stone supports Ultra-Trail Snowdonia by UTMB 2026
In May, Shelter Stone returned to North Wales to support the Ultra-Trail Snowdonia by UTMB® (UTS), one of the UK’s most technically demanding mountain-running events. Set in the rugged landscape of Eryri (Snowdonia), the event brings together thousands of runners from around the world to take on a range of distances across exposed ridgelines, remote valleys and highly technical terrain. As part of this major international event, Shelter Stone provided a fully integrated safety and medical capability, working closely with UTMB UK to help ensure the event could take place safely in often challenging mountain conditions.
A coordinated, multi-disciplinary team
Over the weekend, a team of 90 experienced staff delivered four key functions: Event Control, Medical, Response and Mountain Safety.
Our Event Control Team played a central role in managing mountain safety and coordinating emergency responses across the event. Operating as the hub for safety and incident communications and decision-making, they ensured that incidents were identified early and responded to effectively, maintaining a clear overview of a complex, rapidly evolving event.
The Medical Team provided consultant-led care across the event footprint, including aid stations, the event centre, and the start and finish areas. The team comprised a multidisciplinary group of healthcare professionals and experienced first aiders, enabling the delivery of high-quality clinical care across the event.
Supporting this was our specialist Response Team, providing a dedicated on-course emergency response capability. Made up of current mountain rescue team members who are also outdoor professionals and, in many cases, healthcare professionals, this team can deploy 24/7 in all weather and terrain. Their role is to reach and assist participants quickly anywhere on the course.
Alongside this, the Mountain Safety Team delivered comprehensive, high-level course marshalling. Every member of this team is a qualified outdoor professional, holding at least a Summer Mountain Leader award, ensuring that key decision points across the course were staffed by individuals with the skills and judgement required to operate in mountain environments and to guide participants who may need escorting off the hill.
Built on experience and local knowledge
At Shelter Stone, we pride ourselves on deploying highly experienced, professional teams capable of supporting complex endurance events in remote and mountainous settings. A key part of this is aligning with UTMB’s ethos of being part of the local community. Wherever possible, we recruit local outdoor instructors and professionals for roles such as mountain safety, bringing valuable local knowledge and strengthening community links. This combination of professional standards and local expertise is central to delivering safe, resilient event operations.
Challenging conditions on the mountain
As is often the case in Eryri, the weather played a significant role over the weekend. Conditions deteriorated on the higher ground on Saturday night, with low cloud, wind and rain creating a challenging environment for participants. These conditions led to several participants requiring assistance for hypothermia, both at aid stations and on the mountain. The presence of experienced medical, response and safety teams ensured that these incidents were managed promptly and effectively, helping to maintain participant safety throughout the event.
Supporting self-sufficiency and reducing external demand
A key objective of the Shelter Stone team is to enable events of this scale to operate as self-sufficiently as possible while maintaining high standards of care. By providing a comprehensive on-site medical and rescue capability, the team aims to minimise the impact on local statutory services, including NHS provision and local mountain rescue teams. This approach supports both participant safety and the sustainability of hosting large-scale endurance events in sensitive, high-demand environments.
A huge thank you
Delivering an event of this scale is only possible through the commitment and professionalism of those involved. We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all 90 members of the Shelter Stone team who worked tirelessly over the weekend in demanding conditions. We would also like to congratulate all participants who took on the challenge of the Welsh mountains. Ultra-Trail Snowdonia remains one of the most demanding and rewarding events in the UK trail-running calendar, and it is always a privilege to be part of it.